The U.S. Forest Service is looking to change operations at the Twin Lakes Recreation Area in the Allegheny National Forest –– and wants to get public input on the matter.
Open houses are scheduled from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Feb. 1 and from 1 to 3 p.m. Feb. 10 at the Jones Township Community Building at 320 Faries St. in Wilcox to discuss concerns and ideas regarding the future of Twin Lakes.
“This is not a decision to close Twin Lakes but for 2018, the ANF does not have the funding or means to address deficiencies with the wastewater treatment system that led to the early closure of the site in September 2017, or the lingering issues with other facilities that support camping at Twin Lakes,” Marienville District Ranger Rob Fallon said.
Fallon said the Forest Service recognizes that Twin Lakes is an important recreation destination for local communities, and said they are committed to maintaining access to the site for day uses like fishing, swimming, hiking and picnicking. The forest will operate the day use facilities at Twin Lakes this year, but camping will not be available this year.
Following a decade of reduced appropriated funding for recreation management, the national forest district has seen another 12 percent reduction in recreation funding since 2015, Fallon said. This has not only affected the ability to address deferred maintenance for recreation facilities across the forest, but it also has reduced the staff available to manage the recreation program, he said.
The local ranger district has not yet been allocated funds to maintain or repair recreation or administrative facilities for 2018, but decisions on the upcoming operating season cannot be postponed, Fallon said. With limited staffing, the Forest Service can maintain public access to Twin Lakes for day-use activities, but this will not include opening the main bathhouse.
For more information about operations, contact the Marienville Ranger District at 927-6628. For more information about the open houses, contact Marienville District Ranger Rob Fallon at 927-5799 or Jones Township Secretary Laurie Storrar at 929-5138.
